Your Risk Factor Profile

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1 Modifiable Risk Factor Your Risk Factor Profile Desirable Level Risk Factor Tool My Level My Level My Level Date: Date: Date: Physical Inactivity Nutrition Stress Smoking Blood Pressure Cholesterol Blood Glucose Waist Size Aerobic Exercise Resistance Training Exercise Fat: less than30% of daily calories (<7% Cal from saturated fat; < 1% Cal from trans fat) Daily active living Moderate to Vigorous intensity, minutes 5 times/week Moderate intensity, reps, 2-3 times/week Sodium: Fibre: less than at least mg/day grams/day Coping well with: Depression Sleep apnea Psychosocial stress Disturbed sleep Chronic stress Stressful life events Lost sense of control To find out your heart stress risk, go to this website or see psychosocial services Avoid smoking and exposure to second hand smoke Less than 140/90 mmhg Living With Diabetes: less than130/80 mmhg LDL Cholesterol/ HDL Ratio HDL Triglycerides Fasting Blood Glucose A1c General Guideline European, Sub-Saharan African, Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern South Asian, Chinese, Japanese, South & Central American Less than 2.0 mmol/l or 50% or more reduction Less than 4.0 Greater than 1.0 mmol/l Less than 1.7 mmol/l 4 to 5.6 mmol/l Living With Diabetes: 4 to 7 mmol/l Living with Diabetes: Less than 7% for most Men <102 cm (40") Women < 88 cm (35") Men <94 cm (38") Women < 80 cm (32") Men <90 cm (36") Women < 80 cm (32") Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Risk Factor Profile Page 214

2 Risk Factor Tools Blood Pressure Diary Exampl e Date Time of Day Blood Pressure Comments 12/8 11:45 am 138/80 Stressful day at work Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Blood Pressure Diary Page 215

3 Risk Factor Tool Exercise Blood Glucose Diary Examp le Date Time Blood Glucose Before Exercise Blood Glucose After Exercise Comments 04/25 10:00 am If exercise is new for you Monitor your blood sugar levels before and after exercise for 6 or more exercise sessions If you have been exercising consistently over the past couple of months you may consider monitoring your blood sugar levels before and after exercise if: You are experiencing difficulty managing your blood sugar OR You are trying a new exercise prescription Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Blood Glucose Diary Page 216

4 Risk Factor Tools Tip Sheet: Nutrition Healthy Target Total Fat Intake Fibre Intake Sodium Intake Added Sugar Less than 30% of total calories per day, (<7% of calories from saturated fat and < 1% of calories from trans fat) grams per day Less than 1500 mg/day Women: up to 5 teaspoons per day Men: up to 9 teaspoons per day What Is a "Heart Healthy" Diet? A heart healthy diet is one that includes the following: Plenty of vegetables and fruits Healthy fats instead of saturated and trans fats Whole grains and cereals, beans and lentils Fatty fish at least twice a week A handful of unsalted nuts and seeds most days Lower fat dairy products What Does "A Fat Intake of Less Than 30% of Total Calories" Mean? The below are examples only and are not intended to recommend total calories to eat and drink each day. If you are a man and you eat and drink 1800 calories per day: Total fat for the day = 60 grams with up to 14 grams (approximately 3 teaspoons) from saturated (e.g., animal) fat Tool Box Risk Factor Tool Nutrition Tip Sheet Page 217

5 If you are a woman and you eat and drink 1500 calories per day: o Total fat for the day = 50 grams with up to 11 grams (approximately 2.5 teaspoons) from saturated (e.g., animal) fat Why is not eating well a risk factor? Not eating well can lead to: Weight gain High blood pressure High cholesterol What Actions Can You Take To Eat Well? Try to make one or two changes to start. Begin slowly and then over time make other changes Never skip meals. Include at least 3 meals a day. Start with breakfast Eat regularly during the day. A guide to follow is to eat every 4 to 5 hours. This can help to prevent hunger from building Include more plant-based foods. Have a fruit and/or vegetable, every time you eat a meal or snack. Cook with legumes or beans more often Choose whole grain breads and cereals, i.e. whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread, high fibre cereals Have fish instead of red meat more often Limit foods high in sugar, i.e. juice, regular pop, cookies, pies and other baked good items Speak to a registered dietitian for further guidance Speak to your Cardiac Rehab team to help develop your action plan Tool Box Risk Factor Tool Nutrition Tip Sheet Page 218

6 Risk Factor Tools Tip Sheet: Blood Pressure Healthy Target Less than 140/90 mmhg If you have diabetes: less than 130/80 mmhg What Is Blood Pressure? Blood pressure is a measure of the force of the heart pumping blood out against the walls of your arteries. Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers, such as 120/80, and is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmhg). The top number (systolic blood pressure) is the force of blood when the heart contracts and the bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) is the force of blood when the heart relaxes. Both numbers are important. Why is High Blood Pressure a Risk Factor? High blood pressure often has no warning signs or symptoms. For this reason, high blood pressure has been called a silent killer. Over time, high blood pressure can damage the walls of the arteries in your body. This damage can cause plaque to build up in the arteries, blocking blood flow to your heart. Untreated high blood pressure can also lead to kidney disease, stroke, and impaired heart functioning (heart failure). Other factors can increase blood pressure, including high salt diet, excess body weight and stress. Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Blood Pressure Tip Sheet Page 219

7 What Actions Can You Take to Control Your Blood Pressure? Know your blood pressure level. Keep records of your measurements during visits with your doctor. Take your blood pressure medication as prescribed and at the time prescribed, even if you feel well. Exercise 5 times per week, including aerobic training (walking, cycling, etc.) and resistance training 2 times per week (weights). Over time, regular exercise can lower your blood pressure. Maintain a healthy weight. Increase intake of foods that are high in potassium, calcium and magnesium such as: fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, whole grains, beans and lentils, and lower fat milk products. Reduce the amount of sodium in your diet to less than 1500mg per day. If you drink alcoholic beverages do so in moderation, i.e. men: no more than1-2 drinks per day or less than 14 drinks per week. Women: no more than 1 drink per day or less than 9 drinks per week. If you do not already drink alcohol, don't start. Learn relaxation techniques deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, and meditation - if you notice that stress increases your blood pressure. Speak to your Cardiac Rehab team to help develop your action plan. Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Blood Pressure Tip Sheet Page 220

8 Risk Factor Tools Tip Sheet: Blood Glucose (Sugar) Level Healthy Target Fasting Blood Glucose If you are living with diabetes Hemoglobin ba1c 4 to 5.6 mmol/l 4 to 7.0 mmol/l Less than 7.0% for most What is Fasting Blood Glucose (blood sugar)? Fasting blood glucose is the measure of blood glucose after you have not eaten for at least 8 hours. Fasting blood glucose is often measured first thing in the morning, after an overnight sleep. Fasting blood glucose can help you to know if you have diabetes or if you are at risk for diabetes Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is the measure of blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months Why is an Abnormal Blood Glucose a Risk Factor? High levels of blood glucose can increase your risk of getting diabetes and heart disease. An organ of the body called the pancreas releases a hormone called insulin. Insulin lowers blood glucose. It acts like a key that unlocks the cells in the muscles. This allows blood glucose to enter the muscle and use the blood glucose as energy for the body. Over time, excess weight can cause insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when your body can no longer use insulin in this way. This means that high levels of blood glucose to stay in the blood stream. Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Blood Sugar Tip Sheet Page 221

9 If you have: o A fasting blood glucose higher than 5.6 mmol/l or o An HbA1c of higher than 5.5% With one or more of the risk factors in this chapter you may have pre-diabetes. Lifestyle changes including regular exercise and a healthy diet can delay or prevent diabetes by improving blood glucose levels. If you are living with heart disease, a fasting blood glucose test in recommended. Talk with your doctor about often this test should occur. If you have diabetes, talk with your Cardiac Rehab team about managing your blood glucose levels. What Actions Can You Take to Control Your Blood Glucose Levels? Know your fasting blood glucose level and HbA1c level. Talk to your health care team to know how often these tests should be done. If you have type 2 diabetes your target level for most people is below 7%. Avoid foods high in sugar content such as juice, sweets and simple sugars. Exercise 5 times per week. Include both aerobic training (like walking or cycling) and resistance training (like lifting weights). Exercise helps insulin get the sugar into your muscles to be used for energy. Be active every day. Contact a registered dietitian for further help. Speak to your Cardiac Rehab team to help design your action plan. Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Blood Sugar Tip Sheet Page 222

10 Risk Factor Tools Tip Sheet: Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels Healthy Target Total Cholesterol HDL Cholesterol LDL Cholesterol Triglycerides Total Cholesterol HDL Cholesterol Ratio Less than 4.5 mmol/l Greater than 1.0 mmol/l Less than 2.0 mmol/l or a 50% reduction Less than 1.7 mmol/l Less than 4.0 What Is Cholesterol? Cholesterol is a lipid (fat) found in the blood, which our body needs. The body gets cholesterol from two sources: 1) The liver and 2) Animal food products we consume. Types of cholesterol: Cholesterol is carried in the blood by lipoproteins: Low density lipoproteins (LDL): the bad cholesterol High density lipoproteins (HDL): the good cholesterol What Are Triglycerides? Triglycerides are a form of fat carried in the blood that contributes to the fat that is stored in the body s tissue. High fat foods, sugar and alcohol contribute to high levels of triglycerides. Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Cholesterol & Triglycerides Tip Sheet Page 223

11 Why Are Cholesterol and Triglycerides A Risk Factor? Too much LDL cholesterol contributes to plaque formation (build up) in the coronary arteries. LDL acts as dump trucks, depositing cholesterol into the arteries causing blockages. A blockage makes it difficult for blood to pass through the vessels, which can lead to a heart attack. Low levels of HDL cholesterol also increase the risk for heart disease. HDL cholesterol acts like garbage trucks, taking cholesterol away from the arteries and eliminating it through the liver. High levels of triglycerides increase the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. What Actions Can You Take to Control Your Cholesterol Levels? Know your cholesterol levels. Work with your doctor to decide how often you should be having blood tests and keep a record of your levels Take your cholesterol medication as prescribed. The statin class of drugs helps to bring your blood cholesterol levels into the desirable range, AND also works to remove plaque from the coronary arteries. This can contribute to regression of heart disease Exercise 5 times per week including aerobic exercise (i.e. walking, cycling, etc.), and resistance training exercise (weights) Increase your intake of soluble fibre. Have foods such as oats, ground flax seed, beans, and lentils Eat vegetables and fruit with every meal Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Cholesterol & Triglycerides Tip Sheet Page 224

12 Choose lower fat dairy products or alternatives Remove all visible fat from meats before cooking e.g., remove skin from poultry Avoid deep fried foods Include plant sterols (found in small amounts in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds. Also added to foods such as margarine, juice, cereals) What Actions Can You Take to Control Your Triglyceride Levels? Eat less added sugars, sweets and refined, processed carbohydrates. Drink less alcohol Add fish to your meals more often. Aim to eat fatty fish that are high in Omega- 3s, 2 to 3 times a week Reduce how much saturated and trans fats you eat Contact a registered dietitian for further guidance. Speak to your Cardiac Rehab team to help develop your action plan. Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Cholesterol & Triglycerides Tip Sheet Page 225

13 Risk Factor Tools Tip Sheet: Level of Activity (how much you exercise) Healthy Target: Daily Aerobic Exercise Resistance Training Sit less and move more during the day Medium to strong effort, minutes, 5 times per week Medium effort, reps, 2-3 times per week What Does Level of Activity Refer To? Level of activity is how much exercise you do You are inactive if you do not get at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity (medium effort) exercise on most, if not all days of the week Being active and exercising are distinct o Being active can be unplanned. For example, walking to the bus stop, gardening, dancing, brisk walking, cycling, etc. o Exercise is planned, structured, scheduled and is done toward a goal. For example, walking 3 miles in 51 minutes on a measured route or treadmill, 5 times per week You can reduce your risk of heart disease by carefully planning an exercise routine Why Is Being Inactive A Risk Factor? Being inactive can add to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. Being inactive can cause plaque to form in your blood Vessels which can decrease blood flow. All of the above listed issues can lead to heart disease Being inactive on its own is as much of a risk for heart disease as smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Physical Activity Tip Sheet Page 226

14 Sitting too much is a health risk Being active and doing planned exercise can control these conditions, and improve the health of your blood vessels What Actions Can you Take? Include both aerobic exercise and resistance training exercise (weights or resistance exercise bands) in your exercise program Both types of exercise training can help: decrease body fat, increase lean muscle mass, improve blood glucose levels and improve your fitness level Make a plan for both types of exercise training by using the F.I.T.T. principle (see below) Increase your activity levels slowly. Use the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale Create an action plan that will keep you active Ensure being active is part of your day- everyday Don t sit for too long at a time. Get up every hour and move or stretch Speak with your Cardiac Rehab team to help develop a safe plan The F.I.T.T. Principle: Aerobic Exercise Frequency: 5 times per week Intensity: Moderate * Time: minutes continuous or intermittent Type: activity using large muscle groups like walking, cycling, swimming *Speak to your Cardiac Rehab team for specific instructions for how much effort you should make. Resistance Training Exercise Frequency: 2-3 times per week (not back to back days need a rest day in between) Intensity: start with 1 set of repetitions * Time: will vary between minutes Type: 8-10 exercises that target all major muscle groups, using free weight, bands or machines *Speak to your Cardiac Rehab team for specific instructions for the amount of weight to lift. Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Physical Activity Tip Sheet Page 227

15 Risk Factor Tools Tip Sheet: Stress Healthy Target Cope well with all seven heart stress factors Depression Sleep apnea Psychosocial stress Disturbed sleep Chronic stress Stressful life events Lost sense of control Take 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire at to find your stress factors What Is Stress? Stress is your body s response to change. Stressors are the unwanted factors that bring about change. How we deal with and react to stress will determine how stress will affect our body. What Kinds of Change (Stressors) Can Lead To Stress? Changes in health, relationships, work, family, friendships, lifestyle, or your finances can lead to stress. Loss is often involved in these changes. High levels of stress or chronic stress can lead to anxiety and depression. Ongoing anxiety and depression are major stressors. Medical research has highlighted seven factors that each add to your overall stress level. The seven stress risks are: 1) Depression 2) Sleep apnea 3) Psychosocial distress 4) Disturbed sleep 5) Loss of the sense of control 6) Chronic stress at work or at home 7) Many stressful life events in the past year Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Stress Tip Sheet Page 228

16 Why Is Stress a Risk Factor? Most stress is not an instant problem. Stress that lasts for months at a time (called chronic stress) is a health concern. Each time you are stressed your body releases stress hormones (like cortisol) and over time this can negatively affect our health. Also, repeated peaks of your stressors will increase your overall stress level, and may increase your risk of a heart attack. How Do You Know If Your Stress Level Is High? You may already know that some of these heart stressors are high. To find out more, go online to and answer a series of questions to find the levels of each heart stressor. Or, make an appointment with the psychologist or social worker and they can help. Refer to module 7 for more information on these stress factors. What Actions Can You Take To Control Your Stress? Exercise 5 times per week, including aerobic exercise (i.e. walking, cycling, etc.) and resistance training exercise (weights). Regular exercise turns off the negative stress response and decreases the harmful effects of stress Pay attention to your eating habits. Stress can lead to poor dietary choices and habits Learn relaxation techniques deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, and meditation. You can learn more about these at Take notice of the stressors that occur repeatedly. Learn strategies to handle these differently Connect with others. Talk about what concerns you as well as what makes you happy Make small changes in how you respond to common stressors in your life. Distract yourself listen to music, read, watch TV, enjoy your hobbies and try to have a sense of humour Speak to your Cardiac Rehab team to help develop your plan of action. Take the Stress Reversal Workshop Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Stress Tip Sheet Page 229

17 Risk Factor Tools Tip Sheet: Smoking Habits Healthy Target 0 cigarettes per day Do not be exposed to second hand smoke What Is Smoking and Second Hand Smoke? Smoking tobacco (cigarette, cigar or pipe) or chewing tobacco increases the risk of getting or worsening heart disease. Second hand smoke can come from two places: 1) Smoke that comes from the tip of a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe 2) When a smoker exhales Both can increase the risk of getting heart disease or making your heart disease worse. Why Is Smoking and Second Hand Smoke a Risk Factor? Carbon monoxide and many of the other harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke cause health problems, including damage to your arteries. This damage can cause plaque to build up in your arteries, which blocks blood flow. Smoking increases your risk of blood clots and reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood. Smoking may also increase your blood pressure and make your heart work harder. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that leads a smoker to continue to seek these harmful exposures. Second hand smoke contains the same chemicals and causes the same health effects listed above. There is no safe distance from a burning cigarette. Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Smoking Tip Sheet Page 230

18 What Actions Can You Take to Control Your Smoking, Your Cravings or Your Exposure to Second-hand Smoke? Smoking Cravings Start thinking about quitting consider the costs of smoking compared to the benefits Prepare to quit understand why you smoke and make a commitment to quit Quit set a quit date and identify your triggers to smoke. Stay smoke free prepare for any relapses Ask for help from your doctor or other healthcare professional for more information for counseling and/or aids There are three types of cravings: 1) Nicotine withdrawal symptoms include: feeling cranky, depressed, anxious, headaches, wanting to eat more (increased appetite) 2) Habits smoking can occur at the same time as another habit e.g., smoking and driving, drinking alcohol or coffee, after a meal, when stressed 3) Memories - reminders of how nice it is to relax with a cigarette Cravings and urges will come and go, but will go away in time Remind yourself it will pass Do something else like exercise when you have a craving Take deep breaths Avoid doing things that you did while smoking Second Hand Smoke Make your home and car smoke free Avoid places where smoking is permitted Talk to family members who smoke, and develop a plan together that respects both your environment Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Smoking Tip Sheet Page 231

19 Risk Factor Tools Tip Sheet: Waist Size Healthy Target Healthy target for waist size Men: less than <102 cm (40") Women < 88 cm (35") European, Sub-Saharan African, Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern South Asian, Chinese, Japanese, South & Central American Men less than 94 cm (38") Women less than 80 cm (32") Men less than 90 cm (36") Women less than 80 cm (32") How To Measure Your Waist Size From Heart and Stroke Foundation: Clear your stomach area of any clothing, belts or accessories. Stand upright, face a mirror with your feet shoulder-width apart and your stomach relaxed. Wrap the measuring tape around your waist Use the borders of your hands and index fingers not your fingertips to find the uppermost edge of your hipbones by pressing upwards and inwards along your hipbones Tip: Many people mistake an easily felt part of the hipbone located toward the front of their body as the top of their hips. This part of the bone is in fact not the top of the hip bones, but by following this spot upward and back toward the sides of your body, you should be able to locate the true top of your hipbones. Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Waist Tip Sheet Page 232

20 Using the mirror, align the bottom edge of the measuring tape with the top of the hipbones on both sides of your body Tip: Once located, it may help to mark the top of your hipbones with a pen or felt- tip marker in order to aid you in correctly placing the tape. Make sure the tape is parallel to the floor and is not twisted Relax and take two normal breaths. After the second breath out, tighten the tape around your waist. The tape should fit comfortably snug around the waist without depressing the skin Tip: Remember to keep your stomach relaxed at this point. While still breathing normally, take the measurement on the tape. This is your waist circumference measurement. This method for measuring your waist circumference is best to determine your risk for heart disease and its progression. Why Is Your Waist Measurement a Risk Factor? Carrying weight around the middle of the body changes how the body uses fat and sugar. More fat that sits around your waist and close to the organs can lead to developing heart disease and other obesity related diseases which include Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. However, positive lifestyle changes can improve your body composition, which can improve blood glucose levels, lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Waist Tip Sheet Page 233

21 What Actions Can You Take to Control Your Waist Size? Exercise 5 times per week, including aerobic training (i.e. walking, cycling, etc.) and resistance training (weights). The combination of both exercise training methods allows for the greatest changes in body composition Eat a healthy diet that is low in fat, low in salt, and high in fruits and vegetables, and fibre. Meet with a dietitian for further guidance. Refer to the Nutrition Tip Sheet for more information Changes in body composition take time and patience. Commitment to both a healthy way of eating and an effective exercise program is essential Tool Box Risk Factor Tools Waist Tip Sheet Page 234